rradas and myself are aware of the cause of his
death. Two days ago he shot himself in a fit of depression. I had two
doctors off at once to see him, but they both told me that he could not
possibly live, and that even to move him ashore would hasten the end.
Now, will you come below?"

With a curious, but yet undefined feeling of dissatisfaction Barry went
below with the captain, who, taking off his cap, opened the door of one
of the state-rooms, and motioned to his chief officer to follow.

Lying in the bunk of the state-room, which was well lit up, was the
figure of a man, who, when Rawlings lifted the sheet which covered his
face, was handsome even in death and appeared to Barry to have been
about thirty years of age. Round the forehead and upper part of the
head was a bandage. This Rawlings lifted and showed Barry a bullet
hole in the left temple. Then covering up the dead man's face again,
he stepped out into the main cabin, and motioned Barry to a seat.

"Sit down, Mr. Barry. You must listen to me for a few minutes, and I
shall now quickly explain to you one or two things that may have
appeared somewhat strange to you since you joined the ship. I have had
a very great deal of trouble, trouble that my officers have shared with
me. But I must tell you the story in detail, painful as it is for me
to relate it; indeed, neither Barradas, myself, nor the boatswain, the
only three remaining out of the ship's original company, care to speak
of it, for death and disaster have followed us throughout.

"When that poor fellow Tracey joined me in Honolulu as mate he was
accompanied by his wife, a young Australian lady, to whom he was deeply
attached. He was anxious to pay for her accommodation during the
cruise, but to this I would not consent. And I saw he was simply
overjoyed at her being allowed to sail with him.

"I bought this vessel intending to run her among the Marshall and
Caroline Islands in the usual trade--you know: coconut oil, turtle
shell, and sharks' fins. After leaving Honolulu we cruised among the
eastward islands and did well--so well that we nearly filled the ship.
Then we stood away for the Carolines, and on our way ran into Port Lele
on Strong's Island, to wood and water. It was after we left there that
Tracey lost his wife. Poor girl, her end was a terrible one."

He sighed, and then resumed. "A very terrible end--she was lost
overboard. But let me tell the whole story.

"Whilst we